Boating and Drinking Holiday Weekend? Get a Designated Operator

With no precipitation and daytime temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees in the forecast for Memorial Day Weekend, conditions will be great for boating all the way through Monday.

Iowa DNR Conservation Officer for Floyd and Mitchell counties, Jacob Fulk, reminds boat operators that many drinking and driving laws on land also extend out to lakes, ponds and rivers, but there are notable differences between driving a car and driving a boat.

Before you hit the water, Fulk says you must have a life jacket for everyone on your boat and water enthusiasts associated with your boat.

Fulk adds that  anyone 13 or younger must wear a life jacket at all times and there’s zero-tolerance among law enforcement for not having an adequate number of life jackets. If you don’t have enough, you will get fined.